Inclusive Riding at KJRFV Zehlendorf e.V.: No money for big leaps

The KJRFV Zehlendorf e.V. - a somewhat different sports club for ALL children
The Kinder- und Jugend-, Reit- und Fahrverein Zehlendorf e.V.  (KJRFV) was founded in 1988. With its 460 club members and 100 ponies and horses, it practices the natural cooperation of children with and without disabilities and cooperates with various institutions in Berlin and Brandenburg. These riding children also take part in all club activities. Relatively low membership fees and good public transport connections enable children and young people from all social backgrounds in a big city like Berlin to have access to riding. All horses and ponies are available to children and young people on an equal basis, so that there is no two-class society between private horse owners and school horse riders. The KJRFV is a non-profit sports club and sees itself as a place and activity space for children and young people, where club members as well as participants of the numerous cooperation groups spend their (free) time in a meaningful way and develop self-confidence and social togetherness in their relationship with people and animals. The special teaching concept of the KJRFV contributes significantly to the club members taking responsibility for their fellow human beings and animals step by step.

Animal welfare
Our horses and ponies live in species-appropriate open stables in herds. This type of keeping does justice to the horse's primal need as a flight and herd animal for movement and social contact. The high average age of our horses and ponies, well over 30 years, confirms that this is the right way to keep them.  We also provide our school horses with comprehensive medical care to ensure long-lasting health. It is also part of the philosophy of the association to take responsibility for the animals until their death, even if they can no longer be used in the association for reasons of age or health.

Organisation
The administration and organisation of the association, as well as the care and maintenance of the animals and properties, are still carried out almost entirely on a voluntary basis.  There are only 5 permanent employees, 1 of whom is a full-time master of horse management and 1 of whom is an animal care assistant with disabilities. In contrast to other riding clubs, the children's riding club is financed almost exclusively through membership fees, admission fees and income from the additional riding courses offered. However, this does not allow for the formation of reserves for repairs and building measures. For any other expenditure, especially unforeseen ones, we are dependent on outside support.